Red Bluff Joint Union High School Superintendent responds

Red Bluff Joint Union High School District Superintendent Lisa Escobar, right, listens to a
good news presentation at Wednesday?s Board of Trustees meeting. Later in the meeting the
teachers association presented a vote of no confidence in her leadership.

Red Bluff Joint Union High School District Superintendent Lisa Escobar responded to a week of events that saw the teachers union announce it had given her leadership a vote of no confidence when she issued her first statement on the matter Friday afternoon.

?I am aware that late last week a member of our teachers union contacted local news media and made negative and untrue comments about me, in connection with a Vote of No Confidence.

I do not agree with the statements made by union representatives and welcome an investigation,? the written statement said.

?I have been tasked by the Board with implementing necessary changes to improve the educational opportunities for the benefit of all students.

I will continue to focus my time and energy on the Board's goal to improve educational opportunities for all of our students by working with all stakeholders.?

In an email to the Daily News Escobar said the Board of Trustees would be issuing a statement on Monday.

The board is scheduled to hold a special meeting at 10:30 a.m. Monday.

The only item listed on the agenda is a Closed Session conference regarding labor negotiations.

The Red Bluff Joint Union High School District Teachers Association issued a press release Nov. 15 saying that it had held a no confidence vote regarding Escobar's leadership.

The union also handed over binders of supporting documents to the trustees it said explained the reasons behind the vote. Supplemental information of more specific allegations was presented to the media.

The union's complaints are that Escobar has made changes that are not good for students, is not an effective collaborator or communicator, has been inconsistent with her decisions and has not supported what the teachers do well.

More detailed complaints included accusations of positions not being filled, plagiarism and not meeting safety concerns in the wake of a student's murder.

At Wednesday's board meeting, trustees said they would be looking into the matter.

Trustee Jack Hansen suggested a third party arbitrator may be hired to investigate the allegations.

Escobar began her employment as the district's superintendent July 1, 2012.

--------- Rich Greene can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 109 or by email at rgreene@redbluffdailynews.c om.